The Extra Mile

Life's Lessons - Joseph Mattappally

People are different, so are their aspirations, situations and potentials. To a few, success is material and to some others it is abstract. Quite recently, a friend of mine shared me his state of mind in brief. He wrote, “…. I'm also extreme in my detachment to all family relations. Those close to me say I'm living in some other world. May be, too! Last night after correcting a book, taking some 8 hrs, I didn't feel like going to bed at 3 in the morning. The sky was exceptionally clear, studded with stars. I took my violin and went out on the sit-out and started playing……” There cannot be a single measurement that fits everyone, so is the case of success secrets too. 

I am reminded of an old kitchen story. A daughter awfully tells her Mom how things are pitiful in her case. She said that the more problems she solve the more of that appears. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Then she put carrots in one pot, eggs in another and ground coffee beans in the last. After a while, she turned off the burners. She took out the carrots, eggs and coffee bean in separate bowls and told her daughter that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, and came out softened; the egg had been fragile early but now it is hard inside; the coffee beans were unique but they changed the water. The mother continued saying that it is up to each one to choose to be any of these - the carrot, the egg or the beans. The carrot group looks strong but become weak and powerless at adverse times but the egg becomes harder and harder as the heat increases. With regard to coffee beans, when things are at their worst, it gets better and changes the situation around.

This is not all; this story is only about distinct approaches to varying situations. The real secret of success but is in the advice, a rich industrialist gave his son. He said, “Take the initiative; be innovative, be creative and always go the extra mile."